It is a protozoan disease caused by flagellate
Leishmania which is found in reticulo-endothelial system (liver, spleen, bone
marrow) of human. It is also called as dum dum fever or black fever.
It is very common disease of Nepal
(Tarai region), India (Bihar), Bangladesh, Burma and reported from Srilanka, Africa, China, South
America and Mediterranean area.
Causative organism: The protozoan Leishmania
donovani is the causative organism. It is digenetic parasite and completes its
life cycle in two hosts; man and sand fly.
Method of transmission: When an infected sad fly;
Phlebotomous argentipes bites a healthier person the parasite enters inside the
body.
Incubation period:The incubation period varies from
3 to 6 months. Sometimes symptoms may appear after 2 years.
Symptoms: Early symptoms include swelling of spleen
and liver. It is followed by high fever, weakness, loss of
appetite, anaemia due to reduction in number of blood cells an darkening of
skin.
Preventive
Measures (Prophylaxis):
·
Destroy the
habitats of sand flies.
·
Regular
clean up of pet animals as well as surroundings.
·
To
prevent biting of sand fly mosquito nets are used.
·
Periodic
spray of insecticides to eradicate sand fly.
·
Education
about impact of kala-azar is necessary.
Treatment:
The
antimony compounds are used as medicine like Aminosidine and Ambisone are
recent anti- kala-azara drugs. An oral drug Miltefosine is also used for
visceral Leishmaniasis.